[WIP] [ST 5: TRAVEL]

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An expansive river emerges in the distance, so vast that it spans and cuts nearly halfway through the entire territory of Guarida. Its flow is incredibly powerful, its depth even scarier. To the giant, this wild river acts as a natural barrier that separates his personal territory from the rest of Guarida. Along with his warnings, it instills fear in the humans inhabiting his territory, discouraging them from crossing and delving into his forbidden forest. However, some of the tiny creatures, like the one currently cradled in the giant’s palm, choose to defy his orders and risk crossing this boundary regardless. He still doesn’t comprehend why humans so eagerly seek to venture into his personal space, despite being unaware of the consequences of getting caught.

The human cautiously peers over the edge of the giant’s hand to behold the approaching panorama. This stretch of the river is somewhat legendary, a story known among the inhabitants of Guarida. The young man braces in anticipation for what is about to unfold, something he has never witnessed before.

Without breaking stride, the giant ventures into the river. Stepping over a sequence of massive stones, meticulously carved flat and widely spaced from one another (at least in human terms). These stones, arranged centuries ago by the Great Builder, form a rudimentary bridge to cross the rushing river from side to side, a passage that only a giant may use.

It’s such a mundane action for him that he barely pays any attention to it. Yer, for the human tightly grasping the flesh of the giant's hand, excitement floods over him as he experiences, for the first time, the giant's traversal along the stone pathway over the Great Giant’s River—a cherished tale about the giants of Guarida that his mother once used to soothe him to sleep as a kid.

Having crossed the river, they enter the final stretch of tall pines lining the expanse of the tumultuous river. The scenery grows darker, and the only light illuminating them comes from the rising moon above. What the human can see beyond the giant’s palm below and the hairy chest behind him, are the trees crisscrossing around them. Trees that, increasingly, diminish in height as they keep on going. Having left the mountains behind, there’s nothing left that matches the stature of the beast carrying him.

As they advance, the density of trees gradually diminishes until the forest abruptly ends, and vast fields of virgin meadows adorned with occasional parches of trees and low shrubs begin to unfold before them. This marks the beginning of the most fertile area in the lands of Guarida, although it’s still too close to the giant’s forbidden forest for humans to dare building.

In the tranquility of the meadows, some wild animals can be spotted wandering around or preparing to sleep the night. Although they sense the giant’s presence as he moves through the area, they are accustomed to him. They know when the giant is on the prowl and need to flee, and when he is calm and not a threat. Much of the giant’s diet consists of these wild animals roaming the area.

The serenity of the night and the giant’s calm footsteps evoke a calming sensation in the little guy, almost inviting him to a lazy nap on the fleshy and warm palm of his giant transporter. Looking up he manages to distinguish the features on the giant’s face silhouetted against the night’s dimness. He’s silent and focused on the horizon, lost in his own thoughts.

With each step they draw closer and closer to the continent’s coast, gradually descending in altitude until they reach sea level. The vastness of Guarida’s territory gradually disappears from the horizon, until it is out of their sight, even from the giant’s privileged point of view.

They reach a second river, with calmer waters and a smaller flow. Humans have built a sturdy bridge to traverse it from side to side, but the giant only needs a stride to cross over. This river marks the boundary where the giant and humans coincide in a favorable limit for human settlement —or, in other word, where the giant allows humans to build and cultivate his land for local livestock and agriculture.

The terrain transforms into gentle hills and green plains, a landscape that extends largely from north to south in Guarida’s territory. Although the nocturnal darkness prevents a clear view, scattered lights are seen in the distance coming from rural houses. At this hour, ranchers and farmers conclude their workdays, returning home to prepare dinner and get ready to rest.

However, the presence of the giant’s steps has probably hastened the labor routines in the lands. Locals know that although the giant usually uses his own path to traverse this area, he might also choose to take a shortcut across the fields. For this reason, it is prudent that, in his presence, the inhabitants of these lands take refuge in their homes or remain in illuminated zones to avoid being accidentally trampled by the colossal being. A hasty and unexpected end that has already been reported several times in the area.

Minutes pass as they traverse the fields, which are notably narrower in this southern area of Guarida. The vegetation beings to diminish, leaving behind the ranch lands to venture into the narrow steppe that defines the surroundings of Suhr city. The drier panorama of this region is largely drier due to its proximity to the desert territory extending several kilometers southwest, beyond the bounds of Guarida’s territory.

The colossus’s steps resonate across the desolate terrain of the steppe, each rising a trail of dust in his wake. Gradually, the landscape begins to illuminate slightly. Not only thanks to the moonlight but also due to the appearance of a continuous row of ground-level lights, approaching and running parallel to the path the giant is walking on.

“Look, that’s a path of yours.” The giant finally breaks the silence. He gestures his head towards the ground.

The human, now moving much more confidently on the giant’s palm, edges closer to the hand’s border to observe the illuminated landscape extending many meters below them.

What the giant mentions is one of the main routes that cuts through Guarida, extensive roads created in collaboration between people and the Great Builder that allows humans to travel the territory in their own vehicles. The road is illuminated by a series of streetlights forming the roadway’s lighting network. Additionally, every 50 or so common posts, a larger and more luminous post resembling a lighthouse appear. These beacons were installed by the giant to server as points of interest and for easy distance calculation. As well as a visual reminder for the giant not to damage the delicate roads beside them.

The little one recognizes that route; those are roads connecting various towns of Guarida to the city of Suhr, although he personally hasn’t traveled them much as most of his life has been spent within the confines of the city. Along the route, he distinguishes illuminated intersections, the beacons, gas stations and several vehicles on the road projecting their high beams onto the dark pavement.

Seeing the entire scene from the giant’s perspective generates a strange feeling in him. Those people, those cars, those structures… standing up to his own stature to many meters above his head at ground level, now all appear as tiny pieces scattered across a vast, open territory. A feeling that reminds him once again how small he truly is in this world dominate by colossal beings like the giants.

“Something catch your eye, pequeñin?” The giant ask the little guy, noticing his absorption while gazing down, repositioning himself on the giant’s palm to take in the landscape they constantly leave behind. He is pleased to see the young man more at ease and motivated despite the serious conversation they had not so long ago.

“Well… It’s just… everything looks so odd… so small” the human replies while still peering downward.

“I know, right? You’re all so tiny. one misstep and boom! There goes a gas station” The giant replies mockingly, deliberately stomping his feet loudly onto the ground. "Next day, it's all about building and repaving, yet again." He concluded with a bored tone that suggests returning to work next week, mirroring the thought.

The comment doesn't quite dispel the sense of oddity. The young man repositions himself at the center of the palm beside his belongings. Observing the little guy's return to silence prompts the giant to speak once more.

“You know, I don’t usually take this long on this trip. But the night feels pleasant today. Don’t you think?”

The human looks up at the starry sky; the sea breeze gently hits them, partly dispersing the intense heat. He smiles.

“Yes, it sure does.” He responds really enjoying conversing with the colossal being.

“Normally, I jog this stretch of the road, it’s way faster and keeps me active.” Suddenly, he playfully hops twice, almost signaling an intention to start jogging. He makes sure the small passenger and their items are secure while doing so. “Shall I?” The giant then readies himself in a running pose and looks down toward the tiny traveler.

The sudden motion briefly lifts the poor guy off his feet, jolting him upwards against the giant's palm, where he grasps desperately to regain balance. Frozen in place, eyes open wide and unable to react further.

“Haha. Just kidding.” He adds laughing and resumes walking down the trail, enjoying the human’s reaction to his mischief. Although the small one’s reaction was a sufficient response. “Besides, I’d hate to end up with vomit or something else on my hands, that’s gross.”

Luckily, the human’s dinner stays in his stomach. Although the feeling of nausea makes itself present. He takes a deep breath and calms himself; he’s getting really good at that by now.

“Few can endure it. Being in my hand while I run, I mean. That’s why I prefer keeping them in a pocket.” The small one looks up to gauge the giant’s seriousness on the matter; he returns a smile that confirms it. “Don’t worry, I left my clothes on the mountain, remember?”

“Oh, right…” the human glances at the part of the giant’s torso that is visible—his bare upper body, a common sight as the giant rarely wears a shirt. But then, he remembers that below his waist he's only wearing his undergarments. Which, to be honest... could barely contain the beast within. Flashbacks from hours ago flood his mind once more, he blushes.

“Well, there’s actually a ‘pocket’ available… though it’s quite ‘packed’ at the moment.” The giant maintains eye contact with a mischievous grin. “I can make room though.” He winks at the little human trapped in his hand.

The young man opens his mouth to speak but stops, stunned by the implications of the remark. The giant notices and decides not to interrupt him, keeping eye contact. The small one swallows saliva.

“Would… you?” a question born out of disbelief.

“Absolutely. Wouldn’t be the first” the giant replies, showing a toothy grin.

The human’s jaw drops almost comically; a shiver runs downs his spine and then turns his entire body forward, hiding his completely red face. He’s stunned by the giant’s response, unsure of how to react. Part of him is dying of embarrassment, and the other half is filled with doubts. He hears the giant silently chuckle, exhaling a soundly puff of air through his nose. They continue in silence for a few more minutes.

The road that has accompanied them for kilometers veers left and disappears into the side of a hill. Peering ahead, the small one notices that the giant's path they are traversing leads up to the top of the same hill. Beyond it, a faint trail of light ascends on the horizon, illuminating the outline of the mound against the sky.

The giant advances silently and begins to ascend the hill, a steep slope cluttered with large rocks for any human, but merely a dusty incline for him.

The young man looks up above to observe the giant's face. He finds a smile and a pair of sky-blue eyes fixed on him. As they ascend the slope, a beam of light reaches the top of the giant's head and slowly descends, illuminating every detail of his face, highlighting each of his features as if it were a divine spectacle. It accentuates his strong facial characteristics and thick beard, descending to illuminate his neck, shoulders, and his hairy chest.

"We're finally here, Suhr city" the giant proudly announces.

Finally, as the light reaches the giant's hand, it fully illuminates the human. Upon turning toward the front, he encounters the source of the light: the human city of Suhr, shining splendidly on that summer night. The streetlights, vehicles, houses, and buildings' lights twinkle like stars in the darkness, offering a spectacle as mundane as it is surprising.

Another unimaginable experience: returning to the city that saw him grow up in the hands of the giant guardian of Guarida, the Great Builder."

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